Whats up everyone, well pretty soon everything will be worked out and I'll be the owner of yet another Camaro. But this time the Camaro is Carb'd and this will be the first Carb'd car I've ever tried to work with. My main question and reason for making this post is to ask how I can verify that this thing is tuned correctly? The car has a Holley systemax setup with the holley heads, isky cam, holley intake, and holley 650cfm Carb on a 5.7ltr bottom end. I know this is a pretty potent combo so I want to make sure its tuned good before I go beating on it. Is there a way to make sure its tuned good or is this something that only an experienced person can check out?

I'm an EFI guy so the first thing I would think of is a scantool and WB02 readings, but I'm lost with this thing and I know I'm going to need to learn. I could take it to a local shop or a local dyno, but not sure if there might be something I can do myself to make sure. Would it be like, just verify timing, verify good vaccum, and make sure it sounds good and you're good to go?? hahah!! I feel so lost. Thank you!!!

Sorry I'm such a NOOB and yes I did search and I found info on what people do to change the tuning of the Carb. But not so much on what to look for to make sure its running tip top shape, I dont wanna mess with it if its running good. Thanks again!!!

 

Timing would be the first thing. With the vacuum advance disconnected, you should have about 12 degrees BTDC at idle. If you have an advance-type timing light, or the engine damper is marked for more than the typical timing tab, look for 36 degrees BTDC at about 3000 RPMs (again with the vacuum advance disconnected).

Next, it's reading the plugs to determine if the air/fuel mixture is right. Light tan is what to shoot for, dark to black means too rich, white means too lean. This should be done after both cruise and power/WOT conditions.

Finally, how does it drive? Any stumbling or hesitation? That's accelerator pump and power valve tuning. The Holley tech site (link in the "Welcome" sticky above) has a lot of good information on those subjects.

 

Reading plugs is how shes done.

Unless you have the cash to spring for a stand alone WBO2 setup.

 

wideband=the sh*t. Its worth the $500 to just buy one. They even have a dual read setup outnow so you can read each bank.